Calls for real-world car emissions testing

The federal government is being urged to introduce real-world emissions testing for new cars after a study found consumers were increasingly being "ripped off" by laboratory tests.

The Australian Automobile Association says people could be paying more for vehicles they believe are environmentally friendly, but use up to 59 per cent more fuel and emit up to seven times the legal limit of some noxious emissions.

Following the Volkswagen scandal, in which the German car giant admitted cheating emissions tests, the AAA tested 30 vehicles to compare laboratory and real-world test results.

"It's becoming clear that as emissions standards tighten, the gap between laboratory results and real-world results is widening, meaning consumers and the environment are increasingly being ripped off."

The AAA said one plug-in hybrid electric vehicle used more than four times the reported fuel consumption.

The peak motoring body wants the federal government to urgently introduce real-world emissions testing for new cars and make the results publicly available.